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Focal Elear and Utopia

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by SingSing, Jun 14, 2016.

Page 3 of 78
  1. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    "Focal gonna fade into beryllium" - Mike Tyson.
     
    Psalmanazar, Jun 14, 2016
    #41
  2. Smitty

    Smitty Too good for bad vodka - Friend

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    Calling it now: In the next 5 years, B&W releases a $10k headphones with diamond diaphragms. Taking face tweeters to a whole new level.
     
    Smitty, Jun 14, 2016
    #42
  3. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    These will be available soon and are available at moon audio for a pre-order. So its not long before real solid impressions begin to emerge.
     
    gbeast, Jun 14, 2016
    #43
  4. SingSing

    SingSing Acquaintance

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    germany vs france

    we all know his this ends:bow:
     
    SingSing, Jun 14, 2016
    #44
  5. New Reformation

    New Reformation Facebook Friend

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    Not sure if that's a football reference or a WW2 reference....
     
    New Reformation, Jun 14, 2016
    #45
  6. Poleepkwa

    Poleepkwa Friend

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    Not sure which one is worse, the so called "hype" or assumptions about sound quality based on some measurements and price:rolleyes:. The headphones probably took about 4-5 years to develop from scratch as they did with Spiirit One. I doubt that these will be bad, as I have had all Focal headphones and really liked them all...Tyll will probably be reviewing these soon.
     
    Poleepkwa, Jun 14, 2016
    #46
  7. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    I predict a WOF...Just a little prophecy thats all.
     
    gbeast, Jun 14, 2016
    #47
  8. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    For Sure , I don't think seriously Focal just released an Ultrasonish piece of crap. What makes me cringe is the whole communication around " see how we produced Hi End speakers blablablabla.. we're master to produce speakers drivers..blablablabla.. our goal is to reproduce the performance of our speakers through a brand new headphone .. that's why we put an adamantium driver in our Utopia headphone.... blablabla. Yea this new headphone is a revolution (tadaaaaa , trumpets and sun shining in a deep blue sky ) and yea it's onloy 4K .. what a bargain compared to our 200K€ speakers right ? "

    We all know there than above a certain price point, NO headphone is dominating the whole market. Each TOTL headphone I heard offers better and worse things compared to its contenders.

    Surely we can expect a Hi-End Focal to be good. they know their shit. but 4K ? Wtf ? I definitely think the 4K headphones is developped as a dream headphone and the real plan is to promote the "nearly as good as our flagship but affordable for peasants". Dunno if Jude's measurements deserves any trust but it seems the cheaper model is warmer and more "average recording" compliant. Sounds like a very Classic but perfect plan and I predict they sell like hot cakes.

    Showing a 4K headphone is giving some more credit to the idea that 1K is basically "cheap" for a headphone. in one word, we're contemplating the headphone market becoming like the speaker market. Seems legit that this headphone is a Focal after all.

    Rant over. Hope those headphones are good. It's a french company after all.
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2016
    sorrodje, Jun 14, 2016
    #48
  9. SingSing

    SingSing Acquaintance

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    no headphone should cost 4k, period end of discussion.
     
    SingSing, Jun 15, 2016
    #49
  10. Out Of Your Head

    Out Of Your Head Friend

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    How long have Stax SR-009's been around? Since 2011? How much were they when they were introduced?
    On staxusa.com they are priced at $4450. I know pricejapan has them for a lot cheaper.

    My point is that the Stax $4K headphones have been around for a relatively long time and as imperfect as they are, they are still popular. So, IF the Focal Utopia is really good, it's not unheard of.
     
    Out Of Your Head, Jun 15, 2016
    #50
  11. Poleepkwa

    Poleepkwa Friend

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    Agreed, but a lot of people associate "high-end" with high price. Performance is one thing, perceived brand value another (Apple for exsample). Nothing wrong with headphones costing that much, since there are those who will not take it serious if it was "only" a 1000€. I remember when the 300 euros for the HD650 was thought the be "extravagant".
     
    Poleepkwa, Jun 15, 2016
    #51
  12. TinCanEar

    TinCanEar New

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    Damn, maybe I should be a drug dealer ala Breaking Bad to feed these 2 hobbies of mine, computer and personal audio.
     
    TinCanEar, Jun 15, 2016
    #52
  13. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    I'm all for headphones that cost $4k and beyond if they truly deliver the sonics. The fact that you or I could/would never buy a pair doesn't mean there isn't a place for exotic technology to exist.
     
    OJneg, Jun 15, 2016
    #53
  14. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    People are getting too worked up over a $4K pair of headphones. The $4K pair of headphones is the hook to get you to think the $1K pair are a good deal.
     
    Merrick, Jun 15, 2016
    #54
  15. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    If they're worth the cost and you have the money, buy them. Share your thoughts online, but keep your own bias in check.

    If they're not worth the cost and/or you don't have the money, don't buy them. Share your thoughts online, but keep your own bias in check.

    If you don't care but are tired of the way the industry keeps moving the average price of headphones up and up, don't buy them out of principle, share your thoughts online, but keep your own bias in check.

    Same thing over and over for the past few years. Seems like everyone is surprised whenever there's a new, expensive headphone announced.
     
    Hands, Jun 15, 2016
    #55
  16. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

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    It's like complaining about exotic sports cars.
     
    insidious meme, Jun 15, 2016
    #56
  17. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    According to your priorities.
     
    Clemmaster, Jun 15, 2016
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  18. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    There are different schools of thought on what elements of a vinyl system are the most important, but I think you'd be doing a major disservice to your vinyl system by buying a poor cartridge while pouring tons of cash into high end speakers.

    By the way, I don't and likely never will own a $4K anything for my analog or digital system. I am not saying everyone needs to buy a $4K cartridge, I'm just saying I can see why someone would.
     
    Merrick, Jun 15, 2016
    #58
  19. Drakkard

    Drakkard Facebook Friend

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    Finally somebody made Be driver. Was dreaming about it since I had Yama NS-500m. However knowing it is a very fragile thing... And they are claiming it is pure.. I will not be surprised if production run will be limited.
    Diaphragm design reminds of CAL driver, which is good, and I love how open it is.
    FR seems quite bright however, brighter than hd800. eh.
     
    Drakkard, Jun 15, 2016
    #59
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Focal's been making Be tweeter drives for a while. Like all other materials (wood, paper, plastic, magnesium, aluminum, ceramic, titanium, diamond, etc.), Be does have a certain sound. I actually like the sound of Be drivers. I attempted to get some TAD Be compression drivers for a horn system about ten years back, but I only found one unit used, and couldn't locate another at a reasonable price so the project was shelved.

    The important thing that shouldn't be lost in this conversation is the trickle-down tech: the aluminum-magnesium driver headphone.
     
    purr1n, Jun 15, 2016
    #60
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